Hawaou Mariko, holds a degree in enterprise management. In 2014, she takes over the abandoned family farm, and makes it a diversified agricultural enterprise. After completing her studies, Hawaou did not want to look for a job. She wanted to be an entrepreneur. With a loan from her father, she started farming on the f

Francis Wendpanga IMA is the director of the college of Bagré (Centre-East of Burkina). He is also involved in crop and livestock farming, as well as the transformation of rice. The fact that Francis is employed by the government did not prevent him from investing into agriculture. His colleagues in teaching see him a

Thomas ASSOGBA is a mechanic and welder in Benin. In 2009, he ventured into the production of oil from neem, soybean, cotton and other products. According to his uncle, Thomas was not very good at school. So, he decided to remove Thomas from school so that he learns mechanics and welding. Once he became a mechanic and

Flavien KOUATCHA, is an engineer in Cameroon. In 2015, he founded “Save Our Agriculture”, a start-up specialised in the conception of aquaponic kits. Aquaponics is a technique that combines fish farming (aquaculture) with soil-less culture of plants (hydroponics). Flavien makes individual aquaponic kits for people

Daniele NDA holds a degree in banking and finance. Since 2006, she has created her enterprise specialised in crop production in Benin. Daniele started her activities on a family farm that was abandoned. But despite it being a family farm, her parents were not happy when she decided venture into farming. According to he

Edouard AKAKPO-LADO is an electro-mechanical engineer from Togo. He invents machines for agricultural transformation. From a very young age, Edouard liked to create. He used to make small objects such as plastic aeroplanes with materials he bought from his savings. After secondary school, he joined the University to st

Hamado Bonkoungou, 40 years, works in an aviation company. In parallel, he runs a business of fattening big and small ruminants in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In 2011, Hamado was forced to take 110 leave days from work. He found it long and was looking for something to do during that time. This is when he started to rea

Roméo DOU, 37 years, is a microbiologist from Cote d’Ivoire. In addition to his vermiculture activities, he produces virgin coconut oil, thanks to an artisanal process that he has put into place after several years of research. Romeo believes that raw materials from Cote d’Ivoire should not be exported anymore. Th

Caroline HIEN did not know how to read or write. But this did not stop her from creating her own enterprise and succeed in her business of making local fruit jams. Caroline used to go to the market in Cote d’Ivoire and see that fruits were rotting there. For her, this is not acceptable and it has motivated her to tra

“Agriculture for our parents was more for subsistence. But now we have to move beyond this. We have to feed ourselves and feed others as well. It’s not everyone who is called a farmer”, says Marcel. At Makognadougou, 300 km from Ouagadougou, Marcel Ouédraogo, farmer, puts his competencies at the disposal of farm